Brian Lawson

Reporter

I grew up in Southern California. My family and I moved to Huntsville in 2000. My wife teaches high school. We have two sons, my younger son is a senior at Grissom High School. I’ve worked in newspapers for the past 23 years, as a reporter and editor. I’m still new to the TV news business, but WHNT is a great place to learn, filled with smart, dedicated people. I look forward to breaking news and telling great stories that make a difference in people’s lives. If you’ve got a news tip, a comment or a suggestion on what we can do better, I can be reached at brian.lawson@whnt.com

Recent Articles

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The state of Alabama spends about $80 million a year on bridge replacement and repair, the state Department of Transportation says. But a recent study found that it would take about $15 billion to address all of the bridge repair work needed in the state. The issue is in the news again with the bridge collapse tragedy in Florida. There are no Alabama projects attached to the bridge’s builder, Munilla Construction Management, according to the Alabama DOT. […]

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — With opioid-related deaths at record levels, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control has found prescription opioids are a driving force in the 16-year increase in those deaths. A new federal lawsuit has been filed on behalf of Limestone County, taking aim at opioid manufacturers and distributors. The CDC reports, “We now know that overdoses from prescription opioids are a driving factor in the 16-year increase in opioid overdose deaths. The amount of prescription opioids sold to pharmacies, hospitals, […]

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — With students exiting classes in Huntsville and across the U.S. Wednesday to express concern about their safety, the gun debate is again front and center. So, political candidates are on notice that voters are paying attention. Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox, a Democratic candidate for governor, seems to be counting on that in his response to an NRA candidate questionnaire. The National Rifle Association’s Political Victory Fund makes it clear its support or opposition to candidates includes how they […]

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — U.S Rep. Mo Brooks took on a number of issues during his annual Washington update in Huntsville Monday, but he stressed the biggest national security threat the U.S. faces stems from a rising national debt and growing budget deficits. Brooks also said he was uncertain about what a high-level meeting with North Korea will produce, raised the prospect of Alabama’s agriculture interests being hurt in a trade war and suggested GOP leaders are worried about the midterm elections. […]

MORGAN COUNTY, Ala. — Morgan County Sheriff Ana Franklin had one of her former employees arrested in 2016, but now that person says it’s the sheriff’s office that violated the law. A new court filing in the case of former warden Leon Bradley argues the sheriff’s office improperly obtained a warrant based on evidence she got through hiring the grandson of a critical blogger to help them investigate his grandmother. Bradley’s lawyers want a hearing in the case so the judge can […]

MADISON, Ala. — The Madison County Sheriff’s Office is currently facing four sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuits. The lawsuits were all filed in recent months by Florence-based attorney Michael Weathers who represents both current and former sheriff’s office employees. More on the Madison County Sheriff’s Office sexual harassment investigation: http://whnt.com/2017/11/21/attorneys-for-sheriff-blake-dorning-complain-former-deputys-sexual-harassment-lawsuit-nearly-as-long-as-the-great-gatsby/ http://whnt.com/2017/11/21/new-lawsuit-against-madison-county-sheriffs-office-claims-sex-act-caught-on-tape-in-investigations-office/ http://whnt.com/2018/02/06/new-sexual-harassment-lawsuit-filed-against-madison-county-sheriffs-office-fourth-since-september/ Lawyers for the sheriff’s office and Madison County have argued the lawsuits should be dismissed because they’re too long, and not specific enough. Updated complaints have now been submitted […]

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — A Huntsville man charged with attempting to provide support to the terror group ISIS has pleaded guilty in federal court in Birmingham. Aziz Sayyed, 23, was arrested last June after speaking to an undercover agent about his interest in serving ISIS. Sayyed had obtained chemicals that could be used to make a TATP explosive device, according to prosecutors and Sayyed’s attorney Bruce Gardner. The judge who took Sayyed’s plea Thursday morning in Birmingham set sentencing for June 20 […]

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — A Huntsville man accused of planning a terrorist attack in Madison County last June, will plead guilty to a federal terrorism charge, court records show. Aziz Sayyed, 23, will enter a guilty plea to a charge of attempting to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization – ISIS — records show. Last summer the Madison County District Attorney’s office accused Sayyed of planning to bomb a police station and claimed that swift action by […]

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama’s ethics laws have been at the center of a seismic shift in state politics over the past four years, but now legislators and the Attorney General’s office say changes need to be made. Both then-Gov. Robert Bentley and former House Speaker Mike Hubbard ran afoul of state ethics laws. Bentley resigned in April 2017 after pleading guilty to campaign finance violations, including using campaign funds to pay for his alleged mistress’s legal bills and Hubbard was convicted […]

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — In recent weeks, firearms maker Remington has announced it will enter a restructuring plan and file a bankruptcy petition in order to cut its debt by an estimated $700 million. The company says the move will not affect ongoing operations, including worker pay and benefits. But the pending filing also raises questions about the roughly $70 million incentive deal the company entered in 2014 with the State of Alabama and local governments including Huntsville and Madison County, in […]

MADISON, Alabama — WHNT News 19 is still pursuing a copy of the lease and licensing agreement Madison Mayor Paul Finley signed with BallCorps Inc. two weeks ago, committing Madison to building a $46 million stadium. Finley says he agrees the lease agreement – which is far longer than the ordinance the Madison City Council approved empowering Finley to negotiate the lease – should be released. But he wants to wait until they’ve reached a related agreement with Town Madison developer […]

MADISON, Ala. — Madison announced last week that the city had a deal with BallCorps to bring a minor league baseball team to the city and to build a muti-use stadium at Town Madison for the team and other events. It’s a finalized agreement the City of Madison says, but they are declining to release it publicly, saying they want to respect the confidentiality of team owner BallCorps’ review by Major League and Minor League Baseball. WHNT News 19 has filed […]